I’m just a busy little bee writing away … my book has 100 chapters in it. Don’t worry … some chapters are two pages long and some eight pages. Please don’t tell anyone but I am writing this blog instead of starting to write Chapter 91

The show must go on… as they say … I’m having a tough time getting over losing one of my very best friends, Virginia Davis. I’m sure I’ve told you before that she is the little lady who started Walt Disney’s career in 1923 when she starred in his “Alice Comedies”… A couple of days before her sudden passing I had said a bombastic YES and agreed to be a part of a very special project… a documentary about Marc Davis, the great animator, artist and Imagineer who designed Tinker Bell and directed me. The three hours I spent being interviewed for the film were a giant pick-me-up, I’ll tell you.

Every day, the sky has been overcast with smoke and strange clouds from the Station Fire. I awoke this am with a croak in my voice… there’s is no way to keep the stuff out of the house so I was breathing smoke all night long.
Remember the Griffith Park Fire a few months ago? I could step outside my place and watch the activity. However, I am separated from the park by a branch of the Los Angeles River so I was not in any danger then either.
But please keep thinking of me… cough … cough … cough.

For all those friends who are concerned about me and the vast “Station” Fire.. thank you. I love it when someone is thinking of me. But in this case, although I live in Glendale around the corner from Imagineering and just a hop skip and a jump from Disney Studios .. the terrible fire is about 15 miles directly to the north.

My new Disney friends from the ‘Mouse Meet’ asked if I had “flown” up from Glendale-Burbank Tinker Bell Style. I answered that I took the plane.
The FAA will not let me (or any of the Disney characters) fly solo without a plane anymore. They say that there are too many unidentified flying bodies for the tower control people to keep track of.
So, Wednesday I also flew home on Alaska Airlines into Bob Hope Airport. I grabbed a cab to home. Stuffed down a bite of cereal, washed my face (I think) and tumbled into bed.

I stayed with my step daughter Jeannie and her husband Steve in their beautiful home nestled in the tall trees in Woodinville while I was doing the PNW Mouse Meet show for the Mountain-ears Club. Felt like royalty. Jeannie took a couple days vacation from G.E. and showed me Bainbridge Island. We took the ferry over.. beautiful weather the whole time. Steve was in a ‘can’t-break-loose’ time for Microsoft. So, little Jeannie … she’s smaller and cuter than I am and is a real joy … helped me cheer up about Virginia Davis’ passing and took me sight seeing… We did the Asian Museum and park. It was Great!

I announced at the Mountain-ears Disneyana Club ‘Mouse-Meet’ show that I had arranged for Virginia Davis to be a featured guest with me at the Collector’s Edition Booth at the Disneyland’s D23 EXPO on the closing day, September 13th.
Virginia Davis was Walt Disney’s first star! In 1923, when she was four years old, he cast Virginia in the role of Alice of ”Alice Comedies.” This was the first film series he ever sold and it launched his career. She starred in many more.
On Sunday morning I received a phone call from Virginia’s daughter, Laurieanne, that Virginia had slipped away from us. I still find it very hard to believe. I know she turned 90 on December 31st but she was so feisty and bright and happy. My tears come easily.

Had a magical time in Woodinville and Lynwood just out side of Seattle. It was the “Mountain-ears” Disneyana Club’s “Mouse Meet” show, Saturday the 15^th.  Wonderful people and a great bibbity-bobbity-boo show!

If you’ve not joined a Disneyana Club you are missing out. Don Morin, brilliant instigator of the ‘PNW Mouse Meet’ is the type of person you’ll get to know and enjoy. What a dear he is as is his wife Michelle and their young ‘un, Sydni. She was such a help to me. And talented people? For example, John G. Ross who designed the handsome events pin… so good that we all asked him to sign the back of the little pin. He obliged. Look up NFFC.org and find a club in your area.

As you all must know by now, the adorable Virginia Davis, Disney’s first star in The Alice Comedies,  passed away at age 90 from natural causes.  She will be so missed.  She was a dear friend of mine.  Her funeral will be this Thursday in Culver City at the Holy Cross Mortuary.  Rather than flowers, a donation to the Autism Society of America- Inland Empire – would be welcomed.

On a lighter note, I will be at Disney’s D23 Convention in Anaheim from Sept. 10-13th.  I will be flitting around at various locations and will let you know more later.  Hope to see you there!

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